Cricket 1886

470 CEICKET: A WEEKLY EECOED OF THE GAME. NOV. 25,1886, get a decent lot of bowling. Why not do it like the “ sticks at Epsom,” three balls a penny and sixpence every time the bail is hit off, anything for a try, but don’t throw up the sponge eight months ahead. Lohmann and Abel worked themselves into bowlers by hard practising, and very good they both are. Why can’t young Oxford do “ ditto.” At a practice of this kind a man coming with a bat will “ let me have a few balls ” is as much out of place as a man whistling a music hall song in the middle of theArchbishop’svisitation charge.— Yours truly, E.G. L ord H arris has forwarded the following letter to the Secretaries of the various County Clubs as a notification of his intention to raise the question of a reduction of the existing residential qualification for County Cricket from two years to one. I shall be glad if you will bring to the notice of your meeting the following question, viz:, “ Whether the reduction of the residential qualification from two years to one year would not be a wise step? ” The original object in view when rules were drawn up relative to county qualification was not to put obstacles in the way of professionals finding employ­ ment, nor to prevent any good cricketer from taking part in county matches, but to render it impossible for anyone to play for two coun­ ties in the same year. The rule has had the effect in several instances of preventing first- class cricketers from playing in county matches. I may also point out that under the resent rules a man who is continuously resi- ent in one county, having been born in another, can, at the end of two years residence in the former, play in alternate years for each. I should be glad, therefore, if your committee would delegate one of its representatives at the meeting of county secretaries in December next to vote upon aresolutionwhich I propose to move requesting the committee of the Marylebone Cricket Club to alter the resi­ dential qualification as above.—Faithfully yours, H a r r is . T h i s same meeting of County Secre­ taries seems likely to have lively work over the residential qualification. Captain Holden, whilom Hon. Sec. of the Notts County Club, has given notice through a contemporary that he will move the extension of the term required to three years, and on the other hand Mr. Horner, the Hon. Sec. of the Cheshire County Club will suggest the limit to one season. W h e t h e r any change at all is required is a matter of opinion. The rules, I may add, have been in existence since 1873, and on the whole I think it will be ad­ mitted have worked extremely well when the various and conflicting interests are considered. There have been indeed wonderfully few appeals or objections of any kind, and personally I think it will be conceded that they have given general satisfaction to cricketers. But whatever may be the result of the discussion, it is certainly to be hoped that the qualification fixed upon will be a practical and not a visionary one. I f the suggestion of the Cheshire Secretary should be carried out, it seems to me that County cricket as far as professionals are concerned will be­ come a matter of ability to engage ground bowlers. E very one will be sorry to hear of the defeat of Shaw and Shrewsbury’s team in what, as far as one can gather from the few details that have so far reached us of their probable programme, seems to have been the second important fixture of their tour. Though the tone of the Sydney papers before the i^jtch was almost hopeless with regard to the chances of the New S^ .lu Wales players, so much so, indeed, that tney advocated fifteen as the number to oppose the Englishmen, if the cablegram is correct the Colony was able to win, and win with six wickets to spare, with only eleven men. The scoring all round shows that there must have been something very wrong with the wicket. The totals were : Shaw’s team, 74 and 98 ; Eleven of New South Wales, 111 and 62 for four wickets. In the other match, of which particulars have reached us, I refer to that previously played at Melbourne against Eleven of Victoria, there was a singular contrast in the way of run-getting. The Victorians secured 329, of which T. Horan contributed 107, the Englishmen 352 (Barnes 109), and there the match finished with only an innings to each side. The following are given by the Sport­ ing L ife as the fixtures arranged for the earlier part of the English trip— Oct. 30, Nov. 1, 2, v. Fifteen of South Aus­ tralia. Nov. 6, 8, 9,10, v. Victoria. Nov. 12, 13, v. Parramatta, N.S.W. Nov. 15,16, v. Lithgow- Nov. 19. 20, 22,23, v. New South Wales. Nov. 26, 27, v. Goulburn, N.S.W. Nov. 29, 30, v. Mittagong, N.S.W. Dec. 3, 4, 6, v. 18 Sidney Juniors, Association Ground. Dec. 8, 9, not fixed. Dec. 10,11,13,14, v. New SouthWales (return) Dec. 17, 18, 20, 21, v. M.C.C. Australian Eleven, at Melbourne. Dec. 23, 24, v. Geelong. Dec. 27, 28, 29, v. Ballarat. Dec. 30, 31, v. Sandhurst or Castlemaine. Jan. 1,3, 4, 5, v. M.C.C. Australian Eleven, Melbourne. Dec. 7, 8,10,11, v. M.C.C. Australian Eleven, Sydney. Jan. 29, Feb. 2, 3, v. UnitedAustralia, Sydney. “ F e l i x , ” in the Australasian news­ paper, states that the famous Australian cricketer, W . L. Murdoch, had recently joined the East Melbourne Club. “ It is doubtful, though,” “ Felix "adds, “ whether the champion batsman of the Colonies intends to participate hi matches or, indeed, has any idea of taking again to active cricket. His object is merely, it is assumed, to reduce his adipose tissue.” T h e following remarks in the Austra­ lasian, and also from the pen of “ Felix,” on W . L . Murdoch as a captain will, I think, be read with interest— Murdoch was at his best when Fortune frowned on him. Adversity called forth his best abili ty. He had a quicK eye, a cool head, and a stcljut heart. It inspired confidence to see his compact, well-built form and confident smile as he walked to the wicket. When matters looked hopeless Murdoch was un- daunted.j “ Never mind, bcrys, there’s another innings,’t he would say. More than once he alone, byi his pluck, patience, and skill, saved a match fwhan defeat seemed almost certain. Murdocl i was a captain who had a happy knack o!; keeping his men together. He be­ lieved in' unity of action and cohesion. He did all he cfould to get his team to work as one man for; the honour of Australian orioket. The following remarks apply to soma of Murdoch’s old comrades— Boylia, too, was a splendid fellow for keeping up the i spirits of his side when things looked black. And another man you couldn’t beat for pliick was little Alick. His moustache grew perceptibly, and bristled more fiercely than elver in all up-hill fights, and his records show Ihow ably he played in them. Dave Gregolry was another excellent captain. The stalwart New South Welshman never lost heart.! In the most trying times he was strong, cheerful, and courageous, and if he had to meet defeat, he met it unshrinkingly. Defeat never' disheartenedhim, and neverdisheartened Murdjoch. Hence their success. You might complare Murdoch and his side to a Mace­ donia;,n phalanx of old—strong, united, of dis­ ciplined valour. Bjsr the way, the “ Cricket Chatter ” fur- nishjedby “ Felix,” who is no other— I am not jbetraying confidence in this revelation, for M s identity has been revealed several times in English papers— than our old friejnd T. Horan, well known in England w ith previous Australian teams, seems to be ■(developing a most charmingly poetical styile in his notes. This is how he des cribes the departure of the Fifth Aus­ tralian Team for England:— In glory and in joy the Melbourne Club team left these shores in March last. In their honour magnificent rockets and fireballs ascended to the skies, and scintillated and flashed with kaleidoscopic beauty and iri­ descent splendour. They had a delightful voyage home over summer seas of tranquil blue. M ajor Wardill and his men among mag- 11] ficent rockets and fireballs ascending to the skies, scintillating and flashing with kaleidoscopic beauty and iridescent splendour, would form an imposing pi cture say for the great Brock or the irdmitable— I believe these are the correct adjectives to apply to artists o f such eminence—Pain. “ F elix” is evidently hi mself a master of literary fireworks. I h a v e received the following letter from a well-known cricketer and golfer, who signs himself “ A Believer in Both Chimes,” on the subject of the note in “ Gossip,” of September 23rd, on the recent meeting for the Golf Amateur Champion­ ship. I see in the last number of C r ic k e t , you give th e names of several cricketers who played up well for the Golf Championship at St. Andrews. I have before me a list of starters, 108 in number, fo r the Autumn masting held o n 30th ult., at St. Andrews, and among th o 3 e w h o finished in the front rank, I notice the following cricketers. S. Mure Feirgusson, the winner, is known as a fast Next Issue December 30